"Side note - we asked multiple staff members in the gun department, where these guns were located (before I referred back to this thread for the answer), and none of them had a clue. "


Fits perfectly into the now-universal pandemic of ignorance in customer service: The other day I walked into Home Depot and asked an "associate" where I could find fire logs. She whipped out her HHED (hand-held electronic device), scrolled down several pages of text and pictures, then said, "aisle 12, section C - follow me". She then led me down the aisle, continued walking briskly in front of me, and pointed to her left; "right there, right there." She promptly disappeared and left me staring into a huge display of flourescent light bulbs.

Reading what the LL Bean historian said I think it is possible he had a sinestral stock made for this gun and after his death the original stock was put back on it. Just a guess though.

Here is a shot of the stock, best I could get.

Also, it was surprising that they had no label, plaque, or explanation with these guns. You would think they would want to show what they had, and what these guns mean in the context of L.L. Bean.

Your pictures are great, and that D grade is just as I remember, although I never realized how much cast it has.
I also feel it's a shame they don't give some sort of explanation, at least to explain the significance of the gun, as it relates to the founder of the company.
I guess we SxS people are an anachronism. When everyone is frothing at the mouth for the next HHED (thank you for that Kevin) I'm left talking to myself.

Sara, your experience in the LLB hunt & fish dept is not surprising, for the same reasons I outlined in my post. LLB retail associates are charged with answering questions and selling product. LL’s guns on display can’t be sold and are seen as wall hangers, nothing more. Let’s face it, we’re a small minority that appreciates and values historic firearms.

Now if you ask Scott Brown, one of the LLB gun buyers if he knows anything about that Parker, you’ll get a more informed answer. All depends on who you talk to.

Here some close ups of the LL Bean Parker taken yesterday.

The drywall screws and conduit clamps are a nice touch. How irreverent !

Not atypical for this frugal Yankee company.

"The drywall screws and conduit clamps are a nice touch. How irreverent!"

As a retired Museum Curator, I cringe when I see stuff like this. Additionally, the lack of any historical description label is a real head scratcher.

A few years ago, I was on a visit to an "International Hall of Fame" sports museum. It is literally housed in a former residence, with windows all around. Some of the historical artifacts on display were badly faded from exposure to both the inside lights and sunlight.

I pointed this out to the "Executive Director" and showed him how some of the artifact clothing were originally bright red but are now badly faded and damaged due to the exposure. I also offered advice on how to correct. His response?

"Yeah, we don't have the money for that."

Alfred:

His problem wasn't lack of money, but lack of a stewardship gene.